Plant Tissue Culture: A Short-Term Conservation Tool

Plant tissue culture (PTC) is a biotechnology tool with multiple applications in plants, among which highlights the enhancement in obtaining plant propagules through in vitro propagation or micropropagation. However, the production of a large number of plants in a short period of time and reduced space is used in the field of research to provide a greater number of samples (cells, tissues, shoots, plants, etc.) used in various tests. In vitro propagation by PTC plays an important role in the application of techniques such as in vitro preservation or cryopreservation. In this context, a large number of shoots and plant tissue (particularly apical meristems) is required, which must be obtained aseptically and under controlled conditions. Thus, micropropagation is an essential tool in the first steps of ex situ conservation strategies through in vitro conservation and cryopreservation. Likewise, this scientific discipline is essential in different biological assays where plant material is required under laboratory conditions, such as physiology, phytopathology, and molecular biology experiments, among others. In this chapter, we will discuss how in vitro propagation is considered as a short-term conservation tool and how it is linked to strategies for the conservation of plant genetic resources.